Apple MacBook Pro 2016 is Set for Major Design and Feature Revamps (Photo : Apple)
New rumors indicate that the MacBook Air is far from dead and alongside the 2016 MacBook Pro refresh, the device is up for a grand intro at the June 2016 WWDC even as the 2015 MacBook Pros are again discounted by up to $200.
Japanese blog MacOtakara claimed in a new report, and picked up by Apple Insider, that the 2016 MacBook Pro is as good as announced at Apple's June WWDC that will kick off Monday next week. Rumored to have been revamped inside and out, the laptop will highlight the use of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports and the metal injection molding (MIM) hinges.
The latter, according to DigiTimes, is the chief reason that the new MacBooks when unboxed are slimmer and lighter than ever. The same report stated that the MIM hinges will be supplied by a Taiwanese firm, signifying that the overhauled MacBook Pro 2016 form-factor is a rock-solid reality.
But what came as a surprise is MacOtakara's claim that the MacBook Air 2016 will be unveiled too with Apple using the 2016 WWDC as the intro platform. The new information runs in counter with analysts' forecasts that the MacBook Air will be discontinued since the new MacBook Pros will assume the slim-down profile associated with the Air.
MacOtakara said that it is the 11-inch MacBook Air that will exit soon as Apple will focus on the 13-inch and 15-inch screen configurations. If true, the latter will be the fresh addition to the Air lineup, Apple Insider noted on its report.
Meanwhile, the upcoming debut of the 2016 MacBook models appears to be hinted by the latest round of killer deals involving the MacBook Pro 2015. In a separate report, Apple Insider said that new promos, courtesy of Apple authorized reseller B&H, offer savings of up to $200 for the 13-inch MBPs.
The best bang for the buck from B&H is the 13-inch MacBook Pro 2015 that comes with a 3.1GHz processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD. The unit's sticker price is now down to $1399, thanks to the $200 off. And like in previous sales from B&H and Apple Insider, the package is ready to ship free of charge with the bonus of no sales tax for delivery address outside of New York.
Yet as compelling as the new deals maybe, Apple fans will likely elect to wait out instead for the MacBook Pro and Air 2016, which on release date is seen to boast of the Intel Skylake chip and OS X 10.12 (or MacOS as the new name) powerful combo. Rollout time for both, MacOtakara said, will happen as early as August 2016.
